Insulator



May 30, 1933. J. w. PELKIE 1,911,238

INSULATOR Filed Nov. 15, 1.932 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 Inventor JJQ/A WPeZ/i'z'e By @Mwm J. W. PELKIE May 30,- 1933.

INSULATOR 2 Sheets-Sfieet 2 Filed Nov. 15 1932 Inventor I q B1) Wm fllfomey Patented May 39, 1 933 UNITED STATES JOSEPH \V. PELKIE, F BUTTE, MONTANA INSULATOR Application filed November 15, 1932. Serial No. 642,782.

The present invention relates to an insulator which is intended particularly for use on toy electric railways of the type including power or third rail, but it is to be understood, of course, that an insulator in accordance with the present invention may be used on any railway or in any manner for which the same may be found adapted and desirable.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an insulator of the aforementioned character embodying a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts through the medium of which sections or blocks of the power or third rail of the railway may be electrically insulated from each other to permit said blocks or sections to be selectively energized for actuating cars or trains thereon while permitting those on other portions of the track to remain stationary.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an insulator of the aforementioned character embodying novel means for connecting a conductor wire from a suitable source of energy to each block or section of the third rail.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an insulator of the character described which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, eflicient and reliable in use, compact, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further obiects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a view in top plan, showing an electric railway with an insulator in accordance with this invention in position thereon.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure at is view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 4-4:

f Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an elevational View of the insulator, showing the same removed from the third rail.

Figure 6 is a detail view in elevation of the invention with the insulating plate or member removed therefrom.

Figure 7 is a detail view in perspective of the insulating plate or member.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail it will be seen that the reference numeral 1 designates the main rail sections and 2 designates power or third rail sections. The adjacent end portions of the rail sections rest on metallic ties 3 which are connected together to prevent spreading relative to each other by a metallic coupling l. Clamps 5 are struck up from the ties 3 and are engaged over the base portions of the rail sections for securing said rail sections on the ties. The rail sections traverse the openings which are formed in the ties where the clamps 5 are struck up therefrom, as illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings. Pins 6 project into the adjacent end portions of the main rail sections 1.

The embodiment of the insulator consti tuting the present invention which has been illustrated comprises a metallic frame which is designated generally by the reference numeral 7, said frame being adapted to receive an end portion of one of the third rail sections 2. To this end, the frame 7 is formed to provide a substantially rectangular lower portion 8 which receives the base portion of the third rail section, said portion 8 having out-turned guide flanges 9 on one end to facilitate the insertion of the third rail section. Rising from the rectangular lower portion 8 of the frame 7 is an upper substantially U-shaped hood 10 which receives the upper or ball portion of the third rail section. The hood 10 projects horizontally beyond the flanged end of the rectangular portion 8 of the frame, as illustrated to advantage in Figures 4 and 8 of the drawings. This is also shown to ad vantage in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Projecting laterally from the lower portion of the frame 7 is an arm 11 having secured on its free end portion a resilient clip 12. The resilient clip 12 provides means for electrically connecting a conductor wire 13 from a suitable source of supply with the third rail section upon which the frame 7 is mounted. This is illustrated to advantage in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Formed integrally with that end of the frame 7 which is remote from the guide flanges 9 are bendable tongues 14 through the medium of which a plate 15 of non-conducting material is mounted on said frame 7 between the third rail sections 2, the ends of which abut said plate 15. As will be seen, the plate 15 closes the frame 7 at one end. The plate 15 is provided with openings 16 which receive the tongues 14, said tongues being inserted through the openings and then bent in a manner to rigidly secure the plate.

To install the insulator, that portion of the hood 10 which projects beyond the lower portion 8 of the frame 7 is slipped downwardly on the upper portion of one of the third rail sections after which said third rail section is slid longitudinally until it abuts the insulating plate 15. As previously stated, the guide flanges 9 facilitate this longitudinal movement of the third rail section into the frame 7. Insulation 17 (see Figure 3) is provided between the third rail sections 2 and the metallic ties 8. It will thus be seen that the third rail sections or blocks are insulated from each other to permit the same to be selectively energized. Of course, each third rail section or block has a conductor electrically connected to one end thereof.

It is believed that the many advantages of an insulator constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, while the device has been herein illustrated and described as applied to a third rail, the same may be used on those types of electric railways which include no third rail and wherein the current is transmitted to the vehicles through one of the rails over which the wheels travel. It will be noted that the construction of the insulator is such that the passage of the wheels thereover will not be prevented. Further, the device is designed to accommodate or fit various types of rails.

What is claimed is 1. A third rail insulator comprising a frame mounted on the third rail, and a plate of non-conducting material mounted on the frame, said frame including a substantially rectangular lower portion for the reception of the base portion of the third rail and a substantially U-shaped upper portion for the reception of the upper portion of said third rail.

2. A third rail insulator comprising a frame mounted on the third rail, and a plate of non-conducting material mounted on the frame, said frame including a substantially rectangular lower portion for the reception of the base portion of the third rail and a substantially U-shaped upper portion for the reception of the upper portion of said third rail, said upper portion being of greater length than the lower portion.

3. A third rail insulator comprising a metallic frame mounted on one end portion of the third rail, said frame encircling the third rail and conforming substantially to the transverse sectional shape thereof, a plate of non-conducting material mounted on one end of the frame in abutting engagement with the end of the third rail, said plate having openings therein, bendable tongues integral with said one end of the frame engaged in the openings for securing the plate on said frame, the frame including a substantially rectangular lower portion for the reception of the lower portion of the third rail, the frame further including a substantially U-shaped upper portion for the reception of the upper portion of the third rail, said upper portion projecting longitudinally beyond one end of the lower portion, out-turned guide flanges on said one end of the lower portion, and means for detachably connecting a conductor wire to the frame.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

JOSEPH W'. PELKIE. 

